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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, B03407, doi:10.1029/2006JB004299, 2007

Heat flow on hot spot swells: Evidence for fluid flow

Robert N. Harris

College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA


Marcia K. McNutt

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, USA


Abstract

We examine variability observed in heat flow determinations collected on hot spot swells. We find substantial scatter in heat flow at wavelengths of a few hundred kilometers and less at both Hawaii and Reunion, where closely spaced data exist, and large variability in the regional heat flow surveys at Cape Verde, Bermuda, and Crozet. Our preferred interpretation is that the observed variability is due to fluid flow. The presence of fluid flow admits the possibility that some heat is lost through advection such that the mean observed heat flow is less than the actual mantle flux. If so, the full magnitude of sublithospheric thermal variations may not be observed. This interpretation has important implications for understanding heat flow determinations made on hot spot swells and resulting geodynamic inferences. We suggest fluid flow may be masking variations in sublithospheric heat flux making available surface heat flow values a poor discriminator between geodynamic models for hot spot swells. Future field programs, methods of data analysis, and models should be designed to help extract a low-frequency mantle flux disguised by a high-noise surface filter.

Received 19 January 2006; accepted 18 August 2006; published 23 March 2007.

Keywords: heat flow; hot spot; fluid flow.

Index Terms: 3015 Marine Geology and Geophysics: Heat flow (benthic); 3017 Marine Geology and Geophysics: Hydrothermal systems (0450, 1034, 3616, 4832, 8135, 8424); 3037 Marine Geology and Geophysics: Oceanic hotspots and intraplate volcanism.

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Citation: Harris, R. N., and M. K. McNutt (2007), Heat flow on hot spot swells: Evidence for fluid flow, J. Geophys. Res., 112, B03407, doi:10.1029/2006JB004299.